Shoe-lace fastener.



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NITED STATES PATENT QEFICE.

JAMES HENNESSEY, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES ROWAN, OF MARION, INDIANA.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

{SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 726,820, dated April 28, 1903.

Original application filed October 12, 1901, Serial No. 78,473.

Divided and this application filed March 17, 1902. Serial (No model.)

accompanying drawings, is a specificationf like characters representing like parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to fasteners or holding devices for the ends of lacings used in any .of apparel in connection with which it may be found practica ble. It will be obvious, however, that the fastener may be used in connection with all kinds of lace-fastenings.

To the above ends, therefore, the invention consists in the parts, features, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shoe, showing my fastener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a glove, showing my fastener applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of my fastener. Fig. 4 is a like View of another form thereof; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 00 w of Fig. 1, showing the manner of applying the primary fastener to the lace and how the end of the lace is covered and hidden from view and held in place.

It may be noted, primarily, that the contemplated use of the fastening device is in connection with articles of apparel which have a slit or opening to be closed by drawing the adjacent edges together and which have, usually, adjacent the edges of the slit or opening a plurality of holding devices, such as eyelets or hooks, adapted to receive a lacing cord or ribbon.

Referring nowto the details of my invention, the fastener consists of a body part or shank a to lie fiat .upon the material of the article, two upward extensions a a, and two outwardly and downwardly extending wings or ends I) b. The shank is provided with some suitable fastening medium which will securely hold the same to the article and prevent the same from turning or twisting. This fastening medium may be an eyelet e, of any form other than circular, as shown in Fig. 3, or it may be a plurality of apertures o for the reception of rivets, as shown in Fig. 4. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not confined to any particular form of fastening medium, as other equivalents will suggest themselves to any mechanic having in view the idea and objects above set forth.

In one of the wings or ends, preferably the lower one, I), an opening is made for the purpose of receiving and disposing of the loose end of the lace after the shoe or other article has been properly fastened or closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.. In Fig. 3 this object is secured by providing a long slit 6 in the wing b, whilein Fig. 4 a raised portion 5 is formed and an aperture 8 provided thereunder.

Ordinarily the fastener will be made stiff and rigid throughout; but it may be made much more slender than shown and of springy or resilient metal or wire, or the body part a may be rigid and the extensions a a, and

wings I) b resilient, or the wings I b alone may be made resilient, so as to yield vertically and hold with friction the several loops of the lace.

It will thus be seen that-Ihave produced a shoe-lace fastener which, broadly considered, consists of a central body portion having some medium for attaching the same to the article, and said body portion terminating in angular portions or extensions, one of which is provided with an aperture. The function of this construction is obvious, forwhen the lace is passed about the fastener to finally hold the same the angular portion allows the piling up of the lace without affecting the set of the fastener or causing its end to project objectionably from the article and interfere with or catch the garment hanging over the same, and the aperture provides a means for disposing of the lace end.

The details of my invention in the several forms contemplated having been described, it now remains to note the disposition of the same to secure the objects and results suggested.

In the first place this invention is, as previously noted, intended to be used in connection with a single-lace, and in the use thereof the shoe, glove, or other article is provided with an extra hole 72, disposed at a suitable point outside the usual holding devices, preferably near the lower end of the latter, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this hole an eyelet G is fastenedin any suitable manner, such eyelet forming part of a primary fastener for the lace. (See Fig. 5.) The other part of the primary fastener consists of a concavoconvexed head 0, independent of and slightly larger in diameter than the eyelet C, so as to completely cover the latter when the parts are properly in place, and a pin or harp, bridging the concavity of the head 0 and being well within the same, so as not to interfere with the eyelet O and permit the head C to be closely drawn down to the shoe or glove and completely cover the eyelet 0. Such pin or bar is secured Within head 0' in any suitable manner, as by soldering, brazing, 650. Then such article is provided on each side of the slit or openingthereinandjust above the usualseries of holding devices with a fastening of either of the forms of Figs. 3 and 4, the same being disposed substantially parallel with the edge of the opening and usually with its slitted or apertured end extending toward the usual holding devices. Thus disposed the fasteners become in the series what maybe termed final fasteners. The primary and final fasteners being disposed as noted, the lace h to be employed is looped upon, tied, or otherwise secured to the primary fastener at one end and passed inwardly through the eyelet thereof. (See Fig. 5.) The shoe or glove is then laced in the usual manner, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and after being passed around the last of the holding devices the lace is passed under the lower end of one of the final fasteners, then around the outside of the body thereof and under the upper end, then down wardly across the slit or opening to the other or complemental final fastener, passing first under its lower end, then around the outside of the body thereof and under its upper end, from thence again downwardly and across the slit or opening and passing under the strand Which first crossed the slit or opening, and finally through the slit or aperture in the first of the final fasteners. This manipulation of the lace, similar to helaying a rope about a cleat, securely holds the slit of the article closed and eifectually disposes of its loose end. Obviously the lace may be passed about the final fasteners as often as deemed necessary to prevent the former from slipping. It will also be obvious that the final fasteners at the top of the article may be diiferent, as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be alikeviz., both of the form of Fig. 3 or both of the form of Fig. 4:.

This application forms a division of my application, Serial No. 78,473, filed October 12, 1901.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fastener for articles of apparel, comprising a body part having angular portions extending therefrom, one of said portions having an aperture therein, and said body part also having an attaching medium.

2. A fastener for articles of apparel, comprising a body part having an attaching medium, and also angular portions extending therefrom, one of said portions being provided with a slit extending lengthwise thereof.

8. A fastener for articles of apparel, consisting of a central, extensive, flattened, body portion having an attaching medium, and terminating, at each end, in an inverted-V- shaped portion one of which has an aperture therein.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES HENNESSEY.

Witnesses:

JAMES ROWAN, LILLIE L. ROWAN. 

